Power

The tension has subsided considerably but so did the enthusiastic atmosphere of the day. Currently, in the house, Xi Jao was resting asleep in his bedroom. In the living room, on a rectangular table sat the trio; Yang Lin, Xi Yue, and her mother whom Yang Lin was yet to find out her name.

Yue'er cast curious glances at Yang Lin from time to time, but she would avert her gaze to her mingling digits underneath the table whenever she arouses an inkling of being caught. Thinking about this new cousin of hers beating up the bad guy made her heart race uncontrollably. As for her mother, she sat quietly, holding onto a small photo of a youth who looked similar to Yang Lin, only with brighter honey-like eyes. If Yang Lin had to guess the obvious, that was their son.

"He has been missing since litter after he turned sixteen," the woman said. Sighing, "we only received news of his death a couple of days ago…" Even without looking, Yang Lin heard the faint rustle of paper under the woman's grip. Frustration.

"You have my condolences, Aunt Xi." Yang Lin said, aware of her sentiment.

"I thought you were our son?" The woman said, startling Yang Lin. He looked at her, only to see a pair of smiling eyes, though he could not tell what's the meaning in those seemingly calm eyes.

"That…" He had only said so in the spur of the moment, and in order to improvise, Yang Lin spoke out of his turn. He knew he could never replace their son of flesh and blood. Now, thinking back to it, he felt a little guilty and bowed his head slightly. "I'm sorry, it was me being insensitive."

"Don't worry about it." The woman said, her smile dissipating slowly. Maybe, just maybe deep inside she had hoped he was serious about it, maybe that's the reason behind the flash of disappointment in her heart. Shaking her head, she said, "I guess you're curious about those people?"

Yang Lin looked at the woman, then shook his head lightly. "I don't mean to intrude on your misfortune memories. I believe they will explain adequately in due time. Though, if it's convenient, how much does uncle owe them?"

The woman nodded, then said, "At least in front of those people, just say that you carry our surname. If not, these people can be very despicable sometimes. And, the debt… A hundred silver coins." The woman sighed, averting her gaze from Yang Lin's.

'Tha's a lot of money…' Yang Lin thought, shocked. Though, his calm expression did not betray him. A single silver coin could provide for a family of three for a year. Of course, that was back in his hometown, things here might be different since this is a large city after all. Since he couldn't estimate if that was a lofty or hefty amount of money, he didn't speak up.

The woman said, "The minimal wage for a working-class patriot is three silver coins per month. However, over twenty percent of the public are unemployed, and we happen to fall within that category, living in the suburbs. I won't bore you with how we became indebted, we just know that our son spoke of an opportunity to make a lot of money when he turned sixteen. Young and fearless, they say. He went on that night, and we never got a wisp of news in his regards since. Only a couple of days back, those men approached us relaying the details of our son's death, claiming he died attempting to cover up for that debt. Since we are his only family, somehow we are entitled to pay it, else we won't ever receive his body for a proper burial…" The woman seemed to be struggling against her suffocated emotions, just to elaborate on the situation within a few breaths before her eyes reddened, two streaks of crystalline liquid raced down her cheeks.

By her side, Yue'er got off the table, running to her parent's room. It was understandable, she was still a child.

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Today, there was no visit to the docks. It was nearing the evening, and the sun was halfway tucked behind the western mountain range.

Lost in thoughts, ruminating the half-year which passed, he was already seventeen and nearing eighteen this new year. In a few months, which could pass in the blink of an eye.

Suddenly, a curtain of opaque fog enveloped Yang Lin after walking for god knows how long, far from the Xi Residence, and seemingly far from any humans altogether. "Did you miss me?" A soft, distinct voice carried through, Yang Lin's eyes instantly turned cold, flickering with a silver sheen.

"Calm down," The voice said, its source unknown. In a wary fashion, Yang Lin turned left, right, and even spun around restlessly. Nonetheless, he found nothing, and he could barely see two meters ahead.

"I would have used the flute again. However, with that guardian, I'm doomed to fail, so I had to contact you with alternative methods…" The woman, Mo Rong, kept speaking. Realizing she was not around but was using this weird phenomenon to converse with him, Yang Lin calmed down a bit.

Looking into the fog, he said, "What do you want?"

"I have a question," answered the woman, her tone gentle and bewitching. Nonetheless, Yang Lin's eyes kept flashing with silver glitter, proactively protecting his spirit as he said, "Be quick about it."

A chuckle echoed through the foggy space, "Surely you're not shrinking back from taking responsibility for kissing me, are you?" Even fully aware of the woman's joking tone, Yang Lin was still speechlessly embarrassed. She continued, "Oh, could you be thinking I should be taking responsibility?"

"Stop with the nonsense." Yang Lin said, displeased. The only responsibility he will hold her accountable for is his mother's death. If not in the near, be it the distant future.

"Power." After the chuckling dimmed down, the woman said, one overbearing word.

Yang Lin found himself taking a step back involuntarily, that word was accompanied by a formless pressure of Qi that washed him cold to the bone. "What about power?" Yang Lin asked after regaining composure.

"It's quite simple really," The woman's playful tone returned as she said, "do you desire it?"